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Product Spotlight – Gentleman Joe Schubeck: A Living Legend Tells His Story in Hot Rods, Trains, & Planes

June 26, 2025

They say don’t mess with it if it isn’t broken. This straightforward build of a 2006 Honda Ridgeline RTL puts that advice into practice. Honda’s foray into the truck realm seems to have tapped into something big: that some people really want their truck to be more like a big, spacious car. Those people, for whatever reason, like the idea of driving a truck, but deep down they prefer something more comfortable and more refined. That is exactly what the Honda Ridgeline delivers.

So when Buddy Rice, Honda and Fesler Built started talking about customizing a Ridgeline, the conversation didn’t involve an all-out overhaul. Instead the team wanted to rely on the designed-in features that have made the Ridgeline so popular.

LIKE A ROLLING STONE

Bob Dillon built an F-100. Okay, so it’s not that Bob Dillon, but in this case it’s better. How, you ask? Well, there are two Bob Dillons: Bob Dillon owns this truck, but he does so with his wife, Bobbi. See, that explains it. Now let’s move on. According to the Dillons, “We did 90 percent of all the work” on the truck, and only had the guys at Cars do the final sanding, paint and assembly. The Dillons bought the 1955 Ford F-100 nearly 12 years ago and have worked at it off and on ever since. They had a definite vision for the truck, if not a timeframe, and judging from the results, it was time well spent.

NO HAND SIGNALS

Rearview mirrors with LED turn-signal indicators are relatively new, but you will be seeing more and more of them, especially on luxury SUVs and pickups. They are already standard equipment on some models, and probably part of an upgrade premium package on others. They are also now available in the aftermarket.

Spotlighter

Truck Triumphs at the Triple Crown of Rodding 2023

Truck of The Year Winners for 2023 Sponsored by LMC Truck

Author

Jamie Dent

Photography by Scott Killeen & The Auto Builder Staff

In the world of rodding and customization, there are certain moments that stand out as big achievements—proof of how dedicated, creative, and skilled the builders can be. The first Triple Crown of Rodding show in 2023 is one of those moments, a big success that everyone in the car world will remember. It was organized by industry juggernauts, Bobby Alloway and Gary Case, and it brought together some of the best builders in the business, like Roy Brizio, Art Morrison, Troy Trepanier, Chip Foose, and Alan Johnson just to name a few! Car fans from all over the country came to the Nashville Superspeedway to celebrate automotive craftsmanship and meet the people who made these amazing cars.

Trucks have become highly coveted in the collector and custom market, as exemplified by their impressive showing at TCOR. LMC Truck sponsored the Truck of the Year award for three categories: 1972 and under, 1973-1987, and 1988-1998. Among the showcased vehicles, these three stand out as the absolute best: the recipients of the TCOR Truck of the Year Award.

The TCOR 2023 Truck of the Year: up to 1972

The TCOR 2023 Truck of the Year (up to 1972) was easily awarded to Rod Parsons. This 1967 Chevy C10 race truck with blinkers was built by ZRODZ and Customs of Knox, IN, along with Fiber Forged Composites. It’s a real monocoque body! Mr. Parsons also took home the Ringbrothers builders award from Mike Ring.

The TCOR 2023 Truck of the Year: 1973–1987

Ricky Holly’s 1979 unibody C10 Chevy “Lolita” won the TCOR 2023 Best Truck (73-87) category. Built by Dru Custom Designs along with Alamo Customs and MTI Automotive Designs.

The TCOR 2023 Truck of the Year: 1988–1998

LMC sponsored TCOR 2023 award winner for the Truck of the Year (88-98) is Chris Echel’s 1997 Chevrolet “OBS Killa” by BackYard Kustoms of Greenville, NC. His “styling concept” starts with Phantom wheels from U.S. Mags. This one had Gary Case grinning ear-to-ear.

What We Spotted at the LMC Truck Booth

With decades of experience in providing high-quality automotive parts and accessories for trucks and SUVs, LMC Truck is a renowned name in the industry. They cater to classic pickup restoration and modern truck enhancement needs, earning trust through their commitment to customer satisfaction and product quality. LMC Truck’s dedication extends to innovation, introducing cutting-edge upgrades, stylish accessories, and solutions for common maintenance issues, ensuring truck enthusiasts always have access to the latest advancements in truck technology and design.

Here’s a selection of products that we spotted at the TCOR show.